Inside Fashion Week: This Season’s Stand Out Designers According To A Street Style Photographer

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Inside Fashion Week: This Season’s Stand Out Designers According To A Street Style Photographer

Photo Credit: India Hartford Davis

TOME

Created in 2010 by Aussie besties, Ryan Lobo and Ramon Martin have based the brand in New York, and have showed for the second time at NYFW this year, as well as showing a resort collection at MBFW Sydney in May. Having been to all three shows this year, Tome has certainly kept me thoroughly entertained and so excited for the future of Australian fashion. This SS17 season, they had a diverse cast of models of all ethnicities and ages strutting the runway to an all-time favourite, Nina Simone. It was such a provocative and emotional show. I was a huge fan of the ruffles, harlequin prints, flared shirting and elegant silks. Here is a shot of one my favourite runway looks!

Photo Credit: India Hartford Davis

Sacai

Sacai is a distinctive Japanese label launched in 1991 by Chitose Abe, who had previously worked on the Junya Watanabe collection at Comme des Garçons. Chitose launched her first flagship store in Toyko in 2011 and has been heralded for innovative and experimental designs which push boundaries as she reinterprets traditional shapes and patterns. Influencers and bloggers were dripping in the designer on day seven of Paris Fashion Week which I take to be a pretty good sign of things to come.

Photo Credit: India Hartford Davis

Zimmermann

With almost no introduction necessary, Australian national treasure Zimmermann has kept women in Australia (and all over the world) forever lusting over the most beautiful pieces since Nicky and Simone started the business in 1991. They are now truly taking on the US in full force and their most recent show is demonstrative of that. Having worked for the brand back in Australia, getting to shoot backstage at the show, and to see the new season collection on the runway was a very special experience. This new collection shows the return of the elegant, whimsical, dreamy creations we know so well, with modern adaptations and effortlessly cool styling.

Photo Credit: India Hartford Davis

Loewe

With rich Spanish heritage, Loewe is no stranger to Fashion Week. Showing in Paris again this year, and soon to celebrate 170 years as a luxury designing powerhouse, Loewe, which is known for its superior leather and their beautifully crafted handbags, is having somewhat of a revival. The ‘cross’ bag, a Loewe favourite, was everywhere on the streets this season in all shapes, colours and fabrications. Loewe is seriously iconic and certainly a brand you don’t want to take your eyes off!

Photo Credit: India Hartford Davis

Sara Battaglia

Sara Battaglia was one of my favourite designer finds during Paris Fashion Week. The sister of Giovanna Engelbert, the inimitable W Magazine contributor and Vogue Japan Senior Fashion Editor, Sara is an extremely talented and exciting designer with sister Giovanna very happy to show off Sara’s first ready to wear collection this SS17. Initially designing accessories, Battaglia is about to release her first ready to wear collection which is just as uniquely colourful and artistic as her handbags. I can’t wait to see the full collection!

There’s a certain reverence that surrounds fashion week – or more realistically fashion month – but word on the frequently-snapped pavement is that it’s not all designer heels and perfectly curated Instie snaps. But what’s it like to really partake in the sacred sartorial schedule?

“Don’t be fooled by fabulously styled bloggers, buyers and influencers uploading outfit post after outfit post on Instagram, or the models walking the most elaborate and fantastic runways,” explains photographer India Hartford Davis. “From New York, to London, Milan and then ending in Paris, fashion month is extreme and the only way to make it through as a street style photographer is to keep your camera charged, SD card ready and enough coffee to last a lifetime!”

Australian-born India may have studied politics and history, but a long-held adoration for fashion stayed with her throughout. Now, she channels this into both photography and stylist arms of her brand. But with the world’s fascination squarely focused on the streets of host fashion week cities as much as the runways, it’s fitting that India has honed her talents and timing to perfectly capture the street style set as they make their way between shows. And what has she managed to capture this time around?

“The street style this SS17 season has been flirty, inspiring and at times just too cool for school.” Click through the gallery to have a closer look at the designers India thinks will make their mark this season.

Nicole is a Sydney based writer, who’s previously written for Harper’s Bazaar and Elle Australia. She has mused about everything from the world of haute couture, the Sydney music scene and newly founded start-ups.